On a treelined suburban sidewalk, a man wearing a white mask and blue coveralls steps out from behind a hedge.
  • A screenshot from TerrorVision showing Suzy and O.D. in their punk and metal attire thrilled to witness the alien

    Until You Call on the Dark by J.T. Trigonis


    When is a boombox not like a spirit board? What comes after track 13 for any self-respecting satanic metal band? And what if we pressed on to track 66? Only one way to find out. Read J.T. Trigonis’ short story, "Until You Call on the Dark.”

  • Freddy Krueger appears as a shadow in a dark and foggy alleyway. His gloved hand is extended to the side

    Three Poems by Nate Logan


    This week, CDSOB regular Nate Logan love bombs us with derivative flicks, jump-scare cats, cul-de-sacs, CGI monsters, grainy footage & more in 3 short poems. How could we resist? Read the poems.

  • A line drawing of a vintage projector

    Friday Feature


    Mini-reviews of horror movies, books, albums, and other cultural artifacts dropping every Friday.

    Now screening: Queens of the Dead (2025)

Recent Work

A doll's head lays on top of snow

Another Pie in the Face
by Juliet Cook

What fills our doll heads? Evil fossil or whipped cream? Stolen spoons or half empty filing cabinet? Today we feature a poem by CDSOB regular Juliet Cook.

Published December 15, 2025

Jay, in It Follows, stands with her back to the camera in her school hallway. In the distance is an old woman in a hospital gown walking toward her.

Something in the Way
by Gale Huxley

Like most weird experiences, “It began in the frozen food section at CVS during her lunch hour.” Sometimes there’s nowhere to go but around. Today we feature Gale Huxley’s short story, “Something in the Way.”

Published December 8, 2025

A close-up of two hands: A gloved scarecrow hand is giving a white flower to a little girl

Field of Screams
by John Sara

Who on the Cul-de-sac of Blood has not had a scarecrow at the table? This one’s for all of you plucking straw from the rug: John Sara’s “Field of Screams.”

Published December 2, 2025

In Humanist Vampire Seeks Consenting Suicidal Person, Sasha sips from an IV juicebox, looking up over a book

[interview with a vampire]
by Heather Bowlan

Finally, an interview with a vampire we would invite into our home for the holidays. We’re a sucker for a vamp who can sing for their supper.

Published November 24, 2025

Shelley Duvall in the Shining, holding a knife up with a terrified expression on her face

His Blood
by Laura Shell

You never know what’s on the other side of that door. Today, we open up and bleed with “His Blood,” by Laura Shell.

Published November 17, 2025

An abstract image featuring what looks like a plastic bag with red and purple objects inside

Four Images
by Brandon Tanczak

If you gaze for long into a polyethylene bag, the polyethylene bag gazes also into you. Today, we feature uncanny digital manipulations from Philly’s own Brandon Tanczak. Happy nightmare, baby.

Published November 10, 2025

An image from Alison's Birthday: in the foreground is the back of a man in a suit holding a pitchfork. He is standing in a cemetery. Across from him in the distance, Alison enters into the cemetery.

Potatoes of Promise
by Marcus Silcock

Robot cows, whales in the walls, a wooden bible, spuds from the darklands. Marcus Silcock serves folk horror with “Potatoes of Promise.”

Published November 3, 2025

Screenshot of the movie Brain Robbers from Outer Space that shows a woman in a head scarf and overcoat lighting a cigarette outdoors at night

Wholly Worthwhile: My Part in the Longest Bad Movie Ever Made by Stefanie Kalem

This week, a scary season treat from one of our favorite essay writers, Stefanie Kalem, who somehow never told us she was in a straight to video horror B-movie epic a couple decades ago. We made her watch it & write about the experience.

October 27, 2025

A black and white movie still from Nosferatu where the shadow of Count Orlok is creeping up the stairs
An image from the movie Candyman, where Candyman hovers vertically in the air near the ceiling in a hospital room
A still from the movie Carrie, where Carrie stares blankly with eyes wide while she is covered in blood against the blue curtain
A still from the movie Re-Animator where Dr. West is filling a hypodermic needle with a glowing green liquid